Combined pruner and fruit-picker.



` L. C. IRVIN COMBINED PRUN'E'R AND FRUIT PICKER.

gmunkoz 01%' i@ Patented Apr.` 1'1, 1916.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. II. 1914.

THB COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH p0., WASHINGTON,D'..C.

LUTHER c. IRVIN, or WARWICK, Vwasnt: VIRGINIA.'

coivrianinii PBUNER ANDl raum-PICKER.

v Y Specicationrof'LettersPatenti ,c

Application med Novemtef v1i, 1914. serial No. 871,542.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LUTHER C. IRVIN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Warwick, in the county of Pocahontasand State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements inCombined Pruners and Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to a combined pruner and fruit picker, and has forits primary object to provide a device of this character wherein thebranches of bushes, trees or the like can loe conveniently cut, and alsothe device employed for the picking and gathering of fruit from trees.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter wherein the construction thereof is of novel form so that thepruner can be readily actuated for the pruning' of bushes or trees, andthe fruit picker at all times assumes a position to receive the fruitfrom the tree to avoid the dropping thereof upon the ground, whichresults in the bruising or the mashing of the fruit due to the fallthereof from the tree.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which is extremely simple in construction, reliable andefficient in operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointedout in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a side View of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is arear elevation.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises a pole or staff5, preferably made from wood, although it may be made from any othersuitable rigid material having lightness in weight, and can be of anyrequired length, one end of the said pole or stad being fitted with aferrule 6 to prevent the splitting thereof, as in this end is engagedthe shank 7 of the fixed shearing member of a pruner which includes thestationary blade 8 and the movable blade 9, which are pivoted together,the movable blade being formed with a substantially right angularextension 10 to which is loosely connected a pull link 11, the samebeing joined to a iexible pull wire 12 which is attached to an operatinglever 13 pivoted n at 14 on the pole or sta 5 near the opposite endthereof. The movable blade 9 has connected thereto a coiled retractilespring 15 which is adapted to exert a tension on the said blade tonormally hold it in open relation to the stationary blade 8 of thepruner.

Fixed to the shank 7 is a substantially arcuate shaped fork forming ahanger 16, the same being centrally fixed by means of a rivet 17 to thesaid shank, and is disposed in a plane at right angles thereto toswingingly support a fruit receiver or basket 20, preferably made fromwire fabric, secured to a frame 21, which is formed at diametricallyopposite points with out-turned trunnions or pivots 22 which are engagedin the ends of the fork or hanger 16 to permit the free swinging of thebasket or receiver 20,

which is adapted to gravitate for assuming a perpendicular positionirrespective of the angular position of the pole or staff 5 when thedevice is in use.

The spring 15 connected with the movable blade 9 is also connected tothe fork or hanger 16, it being obvious that upon manipulating the lever13 the pruner will be actuated so as to cut the limbs of a bush, tree orplant, and also this pruner can be used for clipping the fruit from atree, which fruit when cut will fall into the basket or receiver 20 forthe gathering thereof.

The blades 8 and 9 of the pruner are bent at an angle to the pole orstaff 5 so as to protrude over the open mouth of the receiver or basket20, thus in the clipping of the fruit the latter will be sure to fallwithin the receiver or basket.

In combination with a pole having a pruner supported thereby providedwith stationary and movable cutting blades, o f a yoke substantiallysemi-circular in plan fixed at its center tothe stationary blade toextend at right angles to the pole, a substantially semi-sphericalbasket having a circular frame at its mouth pro-vided with diametricallyopposed eyes bent therefrom,

and a substantially semi-circular reinforc- In testimony whereof I afixmy signature ing bail encircling@ the basket centrally in presence oftWoWitnesses. thereof in a verticaiplane and having its LUTHER C IRVINends passed through the eyes and'turned outwardly to form pivotslooselyengaging Witnesses: the ends of the Yoke for swingingly oonnect- E. H.IRVINE,

ing the basket thereto. J. W. IRvxNn, Sr.

Copies of this 'patent nay be obtained for ve"cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

